Miss Ceremonial says she’ll stay in touch with rivals

Posted by Terry Bowman | Aug 18, 2016 | Culture |

GALLUP

Lindsay Paige Sandoval of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe may have won the title and the crown of Miss Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Queen 2016-2017 over the weekend, but what she also took away from this competition is four new friends.

The five competitors did not have much in common. They differed in age, their majors in college, and the tribes they were representing, but one thing they shared was their desire to win one of the most coveted crowns on the Indian pageant circuit. This desire to be named Miss Ceremonial, however, did not stop them from forming a bond of sisterhood.

“This is the most comfortable I have been when trying out for a title because none of the other contestants thought they were better, or anything of the such,” said Sandoval.

“I met four amazing girls, and in the span of three days, I have four new sisters that will forever have a place in my heart.” Sandoval is a seasoned pageant contestant having won past titles: Little Miss Jicarilla, Junior Miss Jicarilla, Miss Jicarilla and Miss Hozhoni, so when it comes to competing with other crown seekers, she knows what she is talking about. “I have never smiled and laughed so much during a pageant! There was never a dull moment with the other contestants,” said Sandoval.

“They were all so welcoming. (We) bonded quick; helped each other calm our nervousness.”

The other four contestants were: Amberlynn Begay, 20, of Mariano Lake, New Mexico, a member of the Navajo Nation; Jessica Ruiz, 24, of Scottsdale, Arizona, a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; Martha Ludlow Martinez, 25, of Scottsdale and the Salt River Indian Community, of Navajo and O’odham tribes; Veneashia Joe, 19, of Sanders, Arizona, a member of the Navajo Nation.

During the modern and traditional talent portion of the pageant, these young ladies all assisted one another when setting up. They also were each other’s moral support. “I think I did really good considering there was no help on the stage. We all had to help one another so that’s a good bonding moment for us,” said Ruiz after the modern talent segment of the pageant.